Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-07-22
TROUBLES OF THE K. OF L.
An Appeal for Organization Under the Old
Constitution.

| An appear ioT organization Uuder the Olo
| Constitution.
WASHINGTON, July 2l.-A number oi
prominent and influential knights of La,
Dor, whose names cannot be divulged al
present, but who would be readily recog,
nized in the North and East as members
in good standing, and among the most
earnest and devoted advocates of the labor
cause, at recent conference adopted the
following address to tine members of the
Order:
To the knights Of Labor chererer found,
Greeting:
1t is well known fact that, owing to
the wide departure of the Order from the
fundamental principles upon which the
Knights of Labor was founded, there has
been large decrease in its membership,
and believing that, unless the General AS
sembly to meet in October at Minneapolis
take measures to re-establish the ascend
ancy OF these principles, there will be still
further defections, that will seriously I'M
pair, if not destroy the usefulness of the
Order, we take this means of protesting
against the unconstitutional and arbitrary
the Knights of Labor has been altered,
its fundamental principles nullifed,
new offices created, salaries increased, ex-
penditures made and assessments levied
without authority of the members, as pro-
vlded by the Constitution, thereby leading
to oligarchic rule and to the dissatisfac-
ton of those earnest advocates of the cause
of labor who had hoped to find in this
Order a means Of checking the irresponsi-
bic rule of privileged classes, commonly
known as monopolies, and of returning to
form of government resting upon the
clearly expressed and recorded will of the
majority, seeking, rs such majority newt
ably will eventually, when allowed its free
determination and expression, the good of
the whole people, and thereby the just
rights of the individual
We, therefore, appeal to the members of
the Order to instruct their delegates to the
General Assembly to organize under the old
Constitution and to take steps to submit to
the members of the Order in such manner
as to satisfy all that 4 constitutional major
ity of the members voting have accepted or
rejected each clause in Constitution EN-
bOdying the following:
Flrst-The Executive Board to be as the
name indicates, the means of executing the
will of the Order, to collect, tabulate and
publish reports and statistics and the ad-
dresses of local and other officers and decis-
ions OF courts affecting the whole Order,
but not to have power to suspend any
member or Assembly of the Order, but
only 10 prefer charges before court to he
provided for that purpose by the Constitu-
ton.
Second-The members of the Executive
Board and all officers to be amenable to
trial by court OF disinterested local dis
trict or State Assembly, or by a special
court, that the Order may have the power
to enforce obedience from every one of its
members.
Third-To prohibit any officer or member
from intlicting his views or opinions on any
subject whatever upon the Order, except
by having them first adopted by local
district or State assembly, and then pub
lished rs the opinions Of such assembly,
and not of the member, thus saving much
valuable time, both of the officers of the
Order, and Of the assemblies, and conduc-
ing to the better transaction of the business
of the Order, heretofore and now sadly
neglected
Fourth-To provide for the retention,
under proper safeguards, in the local or
district assemblies, of all money not need
ed for the absolutely necessary expenses
of the general officers and their assistants.
Fifth-To recognize the right of local
selfgOvernment, with voluntary and not
cocrccd cooperation between the different
organizations.
Sixth--To provide for appeals to the vote
Of the whole Order on matters of general
interest, or affecting the Constitution, and
to provide in the same manner for amend
ments to the Constitution.
Seventh-To require itemized statements
of receipts and expenditures with youch
ers, to he submitted by all executive Off
GERS or committees at least once quarter,
so that receipts may he verified aud eXpen-
ditures scrutinized by those whose money
has been contributed.
In short, we ask as the only assurance of
the continuance of the Order that the
principle ofthe people ruling and our rep
resentatives serving, with strict accOnnta-
bility, be recognized; anything else means
Capitalization of power, which is of the
essence OF monarchy, aristocracy and mo-
nopOly, and contrary 10 the ends and aims
of the Order, which was constituted to
combat such tendencies. A house divided
against itselfcannot stand. He that would
be greatest among US, let him serve, and
not attempt TO rule.
Some of the most prominent members of
several of the largest assemblies are identi-
fled with the address, and, according to
information gathered on the subject, the
document bids fair to create great deal
of interest in X. of l. circles throughout
the country.